Winter, 2008 – Bette’s house, morning

Bette wiped the steam off the bathroom mirror with the sleeve of her robe. She saw Jodi’s smiling reflection and returned it.

"Good morning. You should’ve woke me up; we could’ve taken a shower together."

Bette turned to face her and signed, "You deserved to sleep in. Last night was – " She stopped and smiled shyly, "Amazing."

"Had to do something to make up for that magnificent sign! No one’s stolen anything for me before!"

Jodi gave her a quick kiss, took off her T-shirt and stepped in the shower. Bette’s smile disappeared as she turned back and stared into the mirror.

~~~~~

Spring, 1997 – Bette’s house, evening

Her short bob tucked inside a shower cap, Bette was leaning over the bathroom sink applying cold cream when she thought she heard the front door. She came out to find Tina inside the foyer, loaded down with luggage. They lit up upon seeing one another.

"Hey, you."

"Hey! Did you get an early flight? Why didn’t you call me, I would’ve picked you up!" Bette moved in for a kiss, then stopped, remembering her decidedly un-sexy state. "Oh, God, look at me … "

Tina’s gaze softened as she took Bette by the shoulders. "I am." She drew her in for a soft kiss, then ran a thumb along Bette’s lower lip. "You’re beautiful."

She beamed at Tina: she looked exhausted and jet-lagged and Bette could’ve cared less.

"I took a taxi straight from the airport here instead my place. I probably should’ve called first, but … " Tina smiled shyly. "I had to see you."

Bette caressed her cheek. "Of course I don’t mind. God, I missed you. Come on, let’s get your things inside."

"Can I leave my bags here? I just need you to grab that sack with the box." Bette hefted it, feeling its weight. "Oh, be careful, your souvenir’s inside."

"For me?"

Tina smiled mischievously. "Gotta earn it first. Run me a bath?"

~~~~~

"Can I open it now?"

Tina nodded dreamily from the tub. Her face scrubbed clean, Bette sat on the toilet seat and hefted the small but deliciously heavy box again; pretending half-heartedly that she wasn’t a ten-year-old on Christmas Eve, she began greedily tearing the wrapper.

Tina admonished her, laughing. "I told you to be careful! What’re you – ten?"

Bette sighed. With exaggerated deliberation, she peeled away at the package while Tina told her about filming in England for The Mummy.

" … So we were at the Mentmore Towers shooting pickups for the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, right? You should’ve seen this estate! The architecture is spectacular: marble staircases, ornately carved wood panels in the dining room – "

"Boisieries."

"Yeah! Anyway, the caretaker was being a huge asshole, hovering over every movement the crew made – our location guy and two grips almost quit. He was convinced that we were out to abscond with the precious Fabergés displayed on set, and after a couple of days of this, I decided to prove him right … "

Bette instantly froze and eyed the box with horror. "You stole a Fabergé egg?"

"I stole an ashtray."

She brought out the aforementioned ashtray from its box and turned the heavy crystal piece in her hand, open-mouthed. Seeing Bette’s reaction, Tina’s face fell and she gamely smiled.

"But it’s crystal and it’s monogrammed!"

Bette suddenly broke out in laughter, then shook her head in adoration. "No one’s ever stolen anything for me before. I love it." She put the ashtray back in the box. "I love you." Bette stood up, removed her robe and stepped into the bath with Tina. They embraced tightly, breathing each other in.

"I love you, too."

"Move in with me." Tina untangled herself to look at her. "I can’t wake up in the morning and not see your face looking back at me – "

Tina stopped her with a long, deep kiss. "Yes."

As they made love, Bette remembered catching a blurred glimpse of their bodies reflected in the mirror before she came.

~~~~~

End Chapter One of Ten